November’s new car data offers a reminder that the road to net zero is anything but straightforward, said SMMT ceo Mike Hawes. Overall registrations slipped by -1.6%, reflecting not just a dip in private buyer enthusiasm but a market grappling with a challenging economic backdrop. Electrified vehicles dominated popular demand, making up more than half of … [Read more...]
Features
Cold raises the heat of frost-jacking, says Tracker
With recent temperatures across the UK plunging below zero, stolen vehicle recovery expert Tracker Network (UK) Ltd is reminding motorists to be on high alert for ‘frost jacking’ – a growing opportunistic crime trend where thieves steal unattended stationary cars with the engine left idling to defrost windows and warm up the cabin. Between November 2024 and … [Read more...]
Welsh police force carries out UK’s record breath tests
Motorists in South Wales are being urged to take extra care this Christmas after data revealed they are seven times more likely to be breath tested in December than at any other time of year. Figures obtained by personal breathalyser firm AlcoSense show that South Wales Police carried out 4,422 roadside breath tests last December – compared with an average … [Read more...]
Fleets urged to beware security issues with Chinese models
Fleets should take a “measured approach” to security risks highlighted by the government around Chinese-manufactured cars, says the Association of Fleet Professionals. Defence minister Luke Pollard last week warned Ministry of Defence employees were being urged not to discuss sensitive issues when travelling in Chinese cars and the use of such vehicles was … [Read more...]
Car makers welcome Budget plans in parts
Car makers have broadly welcomed today's Budget announcement but have some criticisms. Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “Government has recognised the automotive industry as a pillar of national strategic importance, backing it with an industrial strategy and additional £1.5 billion to drive competitiveness and investment. Deferring the end of … [Read more...]
Fleets want rethink on Gov’s low carbon fuel plan
Low carbon fuel (LCF) must be part of the solution to reduce emissions from heavy road freight as the UK logistics industry warns the current trajectory to decarbonise commercial vehicles is “highly ambitious”. Practical constraints such as the high cost of battery electric HGVs and reduced payloads, in addition to costs and time associated with installing … [Read more...]
Division over “split-level” electric rates for fleets
Fleets need rapid clarification on how to apply the “split-level” Advisory Electric Rates put in place by HMRC in September, says the Association of Fleet Professionals. Paul Hollick, chair at the industry body, says the move – which provides an AER of 8 pence per mile for domestic charging and 14 ppm for highway charging – had left electric company car … [Read more...]
Welsh parents asked for least by young drivers
New research from Autotrader revealed just how many UK drivers are on the roads thanks to the “Bank of Mum and Dad”. Their nationally representative survey of 2,002 UK drivers found that one in three motorists (33%) has received financial help from their parents towards car costs such as insurance, fuel, repairs, or MOTs in the last 12 months. A further … [Read more...]
Electrification is a roadblock to HGVs, say SMMT
Decarbonising heavy vehicles is fundamental to the UK’s ambitions for net zero so SMMT’s latest market figures, published last week, show an encouraging picture whereby a quarter of all new buses, coaches and minibuses joining UK roads are now zero emission, said CEO Mike Hawes. That green growth is helped by strong demand for single and double decker … [Read more...]
Anxieties about older drivers need airing
Almost half (46%) of Brits have had to have a difficult conversation with an older relative about stopping driving. One third (35%) admitted to feeling anxious and unsafe whilst being driven around by their seniors, and a fifth (20%) noticed new dents or scratches on their car. Half (50%) had broached the conversation with their loved one’s best interests … [Read more...]
